The effects of meconium on fetal wound healing
Mehmet Erdal Memetoğlu 1, Mete Kaya 1, Mehmet Emin Boleken 1, Turan Kanmaz 1, Muharrem Bİtİren 2, Selçuk Yücesan 1
1Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Çocuk Cerrahisi, Şanlıurfa
2Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Patoloji Anabilim Dalları, Şanlıurfa
Keywords: Fetal wound healing, meconium, scar, intrauterin surgery
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects of meconium on fetal wound healing.
Methods: Wistar Albino rats (n=20) were randomly divided into 2 groups of 10 rats. Laparotomy was performed on 16th day of pregnancy. Dermal-subdermal incisions were made on the back of each fetus without hysterotomy. In the control group after incision of the wound, 0,5 mL isotonic solution was instilled into the uterus, and in the experiment group meconium suspension was given into the uterus. Laparotomy incisions were closed on 21st day of gestation. Then healed laparotomy wounds were re-opened from the same incisions, and specimens from healed fetal wound tissues were collected for macroscopic and histopathologic examinations. Results were compared statistically.
Results: No scar formation was observed in either group. Except presence of minimal dark pigmentation in the experimental group, no significant difference was found between two groups (n=34). Histopathologically, fetal wounds in the experimental group had greater infiltration of mononuclear cells and fibroblasts when compared with the control group (p<0,001).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated histopathological inflammatory effect of meconium suspension on fetal wound healing. But this effect was not observed macroscopically.